Category Archives: witnessing

Our pastor taught today from Philippians 1:21, about living like you are dying. It really was food for thought. What would you do if you knew this was your last day? Would you treat your family the same way you usually do or would you be especially nice to them? Would you wear the outfit you have saved for a special occasion; and maybe use the good China and silver? How about calling an old friend that you have not seen in years and have good intentions of getting in touch with but somehow never do? Maybe you would relax and take a ride in the country or play a game with your children. There are so many things that I believe we would do differently if we knew today was our last day.

It’s not that we don’t love our family or that we don’t think of old acquaintances. No, we do but we assume that we have plenty of time and can do it later. We tell ourselves, once I have the house or the car paid off or enough money in the bank I’ll do so and so. You promise your children that you will play with them later. And you meant to call your parents but so many things got in the way and before you knew it the day was gone and still you didn’t call. While you were working you remembered the happy times you spent with your siblings but you decided to wait until later to pick up the phone and let them know you are thinking about them.

We make so many excuses but one day there will be no time left for excuses. We will wake up and realize our kids are grown or our parents died sooner than we expected. We should live every day as though it was our last; tell people you love them, hug your children, talk to your parents and siblings. Go on, take that outfit out of the closet and get all dressed up. Take that long walk with your spouse; stop and enjoy the pretty flowers or the blue sky. Remember God never promised us tomorrow and today just might be your last chance to do all the things you meant to do. And above all remember to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Who died on the cross so if today is your last day on earth you still have a chance to be reunited in heaven.

I do my daily morning devotion with Dr. Charles Stanley so if you hear some of his quotes from me you now know why. This morning our devotion was on the “Message the World Needs.”

The mission of the church is to spread the message of the gospel to all the world. Yes, it is true that we do other work for God such as visiting the sick and shut in and helping the needy. But our main mission is to spread the gospel. Now don’t sit back and relax and say “I knew that was the preacher’s job not mine.” It is all our assignment! No, we can’t all be ministers but we can all use our God-given talents to tell others about Jesus and God’s saving grace. You don’t have to be an acclaimed speaker to do this. We can simply tell the people we come in contact with. God will tell you what to do and say all you have to do is be willing to do it. God will send the people He wants you to witness to across your path. He will send the listeners, readers or whatever media you use to be available to you. Dr. Stanley teaches that the limiting factor is not the Lord’s ability to use us but our availability to His call. So today tell someone you meet how wonderful God is. You don’t have to preach, just include God in your conversation and actions. Sometimes we reach people by the way we treat them as well as what we say to them.